please help identify this succulent that has finally bloomed

Tobin · Post by **Tobin** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:05 pm

Thanks,
Tobin

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 6:04 pm

It looks like a Huernia to me, maybe H aspera or macrocarpa based on the few pics I have ready access to.

Mike

Tobin · Post by **Tobin** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 6:50 pm

Having now seen a photo of Huernia macrocarpa (I could not find a photo of aspera)that seems to be it. It is attracting flies just as the description says.

Thanks,

Tobin

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:02 pm

Hi Tobin,

The book I have on succulents has about 10 pics of huernias, and they all look awfully similar. Both the macrocarpa and aspera had the reddish brown flower, unlike some of the others (and some didn't show the flower) which is why I picked them.

Mike

templegatejohn · Post by **templegatejohn** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 7:58 am

Hi Tobin,

Mike has come up with what is more than likely the correct answer. The Aslepidaceae, Stapeliads, call them what you will, are virtually impossible to ID, until they flower and even then it is not always easy. I would not quibble with Mike's ID at all.

What I did want to say is that if you are fond of the plant, try to take a cutting, by removing one of the outer 'fingers.' If it has a little root on it so much the better. Probably best to do this around late spring.

Why? I hear you cry. Well these type of succulents (Stapeliads) tend to rot at the base of the older 'fingers'. This is a natural occurrence in the plant and is nothing to do with poor cultivation methods. The older stems are almost always in the centre of the plant, hence take a cutting from the outside stems.

Hope this info. is of some help to you.

Cheers,
John

Dominique · Post by **Dominique** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:24 pm

I just had a flower on something that was sold to me as huernia hislopii which is not. I found a great site to identify my plant (duvalia caespitosa). If this can be of any help, here is the link :
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/chris.moor ... index.html

eduart · Post by **eduart** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:00 pm

Yep, Chris Moore's website is a must for Asclepiads lovers... Great for ID, you also can find some info.

templegatejohn · Post by **templegatejohn** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 9:09 am

Hi Dominique and Eduart,

That really is a good site for Asclepiads and I have bookmarked it for future reference.

Thanks,
John

Dominique · Post by **Dominique** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 6:46 pm

I have another one in my bookmarks in case it could be of some help :
http://www.cactus-mall.com/stapeliad/picture9.html

templegatejohn · Post by **templegatejohn** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 8:18 pm

Another excellent one Dominique. I only have a few Ascepiads, but it is certainly nice to look at the photographs on these sites.

John